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Craig P. Seebald
Craig P. Seebald
Partner — Antitrust
E: cseebald@velaw.com T: +1.202.639.6585
VCard BIO PDF
Partner — Antitrust

Craig P. Seebald

Craig P. Seebald
Washington, D.C.
T: +1.202.639.6585
F: +1.202.879.8995

2200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Suite 500 West
Washington, D.C. 20037

E: cseebald@velaw.com
VCard BIO PDF
start quote symbolWhen a cartel investigation starts, our clients typically face investigations in multiple jurisdictions. We develop and execute strategies to navigate the complexities of defending our clients in those jurisdictions. Our work starts on day one of the investigation and we support our clients every step of the way.end quote symbol
Craig P. Seebald

Craig serves as Co-Head of Vinson and Elkins’ Litigation & Regulatory department and is a leader of the firm’s renowned global Antitrust Group. With 30 years of antitrust experience that results from working with the world’s leading companies, today Craig represents clients in all areas of antitrust law, including criminal grand jury investigations, civil investigations by the FTC and the DOJ, class action litigation, and merger investigations.

A core area of Craig’s practice involves defending multinational companies in cartel and price-fixing investigations. He has successfully defended Fortune 100 companies in grand jury investigations and coordinated the defense of multijurisdictional cartel investigations. Craig, who is based in Washington, D.C., has represented clients in obtaining amnesty from the Department of Justice, and has successfully defended others in cartel investigations with no charges being brought against the company. “Some of my greatest victories are those that receive no publicity, such when our team convinces the government not to bring charges against a client at the end of grand jury investigation or when my team obtains amnesty for a client.”

Craig also represents companies in antitrust civil litigation, including follow-on actions to cartel investigations. He has been able to win bet-the-company cases for clients by winning early dismissals, defeating class certification and winning summary judgment motions. While Craig primarily represents defendants in civil litigation, he currently represents 12 large shipping companies asserting claims against the four leading railroad companies in In re Rail Freight Fuel Surcharge Antitrust Litigation.

Craig’s experience spans a wide range of industries, including technology, financial services, chemicals, aerospace and defense, semiconductors, transportation, consumer products, and energy, among many others. His work has involved multinational organizations based in Asia, Europe, North America and Australia.

Craig is one of the leading lawyers in the area of antitrust enforcement against government contractors, a particular area of focus within the Antitrust Division. His extensive experience representing the leading aerospace and defense companies throughout his career, along with his current research, speaking and frequent writing about joint ventures and teaming agreements in that industry, places him in a unique position to counsel clients.

Another area of Craig’s practice is advising and representing private equity clients on the antitrust risks associated with managing portfolio companies competing in the same markets.

Craig is ranked as one of the leading cartel lawyers in the world by several publications. He has been annually ranked by Chambers Global Antitrust: USA as one of the top cartel lawyers in the US. He has also been recognized annually in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business since 2009. Additionally, Craig has been recognized by Legal 500 as one of the top cartel lawyers in the United States. Craig has been selected by Lawdragon since 2021 as one of the 500 best lawyers in America in the annual Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers Guide.

Experience Highlights

  • Representing 12 of the largest shippers asserting claims against the four major railroads in In re Rail Freight Fuel Surcharge Antitrust Litigation; these shippers include large electric utility companies, steel companies, and fertilizer companies

  • Representing large Chinese chemical company in a grand jury investigation and follow-on litigation involving MDI and TDI chemicals now being litigated in the Western District of Pennsylvania

  • Represented one of the largest parts manufacturer in the Department of Justice’s automotive parts investigation in multiple parts and follow-on civil litigation; coordinated international response of company

  • Obtained non-prosecution agreement from the Department of Justice and defended follow on civil litigation in DRAM litigation and coordinated international defense of company

  • Represented multiple defendants in grand jury investigations and civil litigation involving flash memory and SRAM memory

  • Represented large Japanese battery manufacturer in grand jury investigation and follow-on civil class actions involving lithium ion batteries

  • Represented a large consumer-electronics company in class actions involving allegations related to optical disc drives

  • Represented a health care diagnostics company in an FTC exclusive dealing investigation and obtained summary judgment in related civil litigation (reported at 520 F. Supp.2d 1191), which was then affirmed by the Ninth Circuit

  • Defended numerous mergers in the aerospace, energy, steel, technology, chemicals, and consumer products sectors

Credentials

  • George Washington University Law School, J.D. cum laude, 1992
  • Franklin & Marshall College, B.A., 1989
  • Completed Harvard Business School Leadership Program, 2009
  • Chambers Global, Antitrust: Cartel (USA), 2015–2024
  • Chambers USA, Antitrust (District of Columbia), 2009–2019; Antitrust: Cartel (Nationwide), 2014–2023; Antitrust: Litigation Specialists (District of Columbia), 2020–2023
  • Legal 500 U.S., Antitrust, 2012–2017; Dispute Resolution: Corporate Investigations & White-Collar Criminal Defense, 2016, 2018, and 2021; Dispute Resolution: General Commercial Disputes, 2019–2023; Energy Litigation: Oil & Gas, 2019; Energy Regulation: Conventional Power, 2019; M&A Litigation: Defense, 2020; Securities Litigation: Defense, 2020; Antitrust: Cartel, 2018–2023; Antitrust: Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense, 2018 and 2020–2023; Dispute Resolution: M&A Litigation: Defense, 2021; Dispute Resolution: Securities Litigation: Defense, 2021
  • Selected to the 500 Leading Litigators in America, Lawdragon, 2023 and 2024
  • Selected to the Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers® (Thomson Reuters), 2016–2017 and 2019–2023
  • Euromoney’s Benchmark Litigation, “Local Litigation Star” in District of Columbia, 2012–2013 and 2016–2018
  • Selected to the 500 Leading Lawyers in America, Lawdragon, 2021–2024
  • Virginia (inactive member)
  • District of Columbia
  • “Bi-Monthly Cartel and Criminal Practice Update,” July 30, 2018 (speaker)
  • “What You Don’t Know About Competition Law Can Hurt You: An Update on Key Antitrust Issues,” V&E Houston Office, December 5, 2017 (speaker)
  • “Antitrust Agencies Finalize Updates to IP Licensing Guidelines,” V&E Antitrust Update E-communication, January 18, 2017 (co-author)
  • “A Dose of ‘Vitamin C’ Boosts International Comity,” The National Law Journal, November, 14, 2016 (co-author)
  • “DOJ’s Catch-22: Corporate Criminal Antitrust Targets Walk A Blurry Line with Culpable Employees,” The Antitrust Source, Vol. 15, Issue 6, August 2016 (co-author)
  • “Class Actions, Parallel Conduct Cases and General Trends,” V&E Client Presentation, June 4, 2016 (co-presenter)
  • “Cooperation with Regulators in the Course of an Investigation,” September 19, 2015 (co-presenter)
  • “Supreme Court Rules that Sixth Amendment Jury-Trial Protection Applies to Criminal Fines: Factors that Enhance a Fine Beyond the Statutory Maximum Must be Proved Beyond a Reasonable Doubt,” V&E Litigation Update E-communication, July 11, 2012
  • “U.S. Supreme Court to Dive Deeply Into Antitrust: Granting Certiorari in Two Antitrust Cases,” V&E Antitrust Updates E-communication, June 27, 2012
  • “Chinese Vitamin C Producer Becomes the First Chinese Company to Settle a U.S. Cartel Class Action Case,” V&E Insights E-communication, May 30, 2012 (co-author)
  • “U.S. Supreme Court Denies Class Action Certification Where Plaintiffs Cannot Demonstrate ‘Same Injury’: Implications for Antitrust Class Actions,” V&E Antitrust Updates E-communication, June 27, 2011 (co-author)
  • Featured speaker at Korea Economic Daily Conference in Seoul, Korea; presented paper on “Dealing with Competitors” and featured in lengthy article in Korea’s Business Week, June 26, 2006
  • “Proving Antitrust Damages,” Antitrust Law, 2nd Ed. ABA Section, statute of limitations chapter (co-author)
  • “Antitrust Law Developments,” Antitrust Law, 4th and 5th Ed. ABA Section, (contributor)
  • “N-data: Expansion of FTC’s Authority,” Competition Law360 

News & Insights

Rankings & Awards
Vinson & Elkins Ranked in Band 1 in Seven Categories by Chambers Global 2024
February 15, 2024
Event Recap
To Self-Report or Not to Self-Report: DOJ's New ‘Safe Harbor’ Policy Tries to Answer the Question for M&A Cases
February 8, 2024
Video
Insight
2023 Chemicals & Energy Antitrust Report
Regulatory Roundup
January 11, 2024
Insight
To Self-Report or Not to Self-Report: With New M&A Safe Harbor Policy, DOJ Tries to Answer the Question
Regulatory Roundup
October 12, 2023